1800 GPS miles in 7.5 days

Belmont Resident · 02-09-2009, 07:24 AM

My wife and I just got back from vacation at our place in northern Maine. Between riding in Maine and Canada we managed to log just over 1800 miles. Weather was great, trails were great but getting thinner and thinner as the week went by. Could use more snow instead of this warm up, I'm glad we went last week and not this one.
Found our first Moose antler on a freshly groomed trail early one morning. He had just dropped it as indicated by the fresh blood in it. Saw other bulls still holding their racks.
Best day was 330 miles with the lowest mile day being the day after with only 100 and change with many averaging 225 to 275 miles.
For you doubters it isn't hard to do those miles when you hit the trails by 7am and ride till 5 or 6 pm and many of the trails allow speeds to be held at 60-80 mph for long stretches.

BroadHopper · 02-09-2009, 08:06 AM

I use to ride with a group of snowmobilers that leaves Laconia for Montreal and return. We will stop at Sherbrooke and Quebec City for the Winter Carnval. Once in Canada we will average about 70 mph. The trails are wide and straight. 1800 miles was a piece of cake!

secondcurve · 02-09-2009, 06:00 PM

What happens if someone's sled dies? It certainly is a long way from home.

hazelnut · 02-09-2009, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by secondcurve

What happens if someone's sled dies? It certainly is a long way from home.

What the heck?

What happens if your car breaks down in the middle of upstate Maine? What happens if your boat breaks down 45 miles off shore? What happens if your plane breaks down at 35,000 feet?

No offense Secondcurve but what were you looking for with that question? There is risk associated with every outdoor activity. I mean I'm half kidding with you here but what a doom and gloom mentality you have there.
I'm sure these folks have survival items with them, (Phones, Provisions, Mathces, etc.) I'm pretty sure we can give them the benefit of the doubt here that they actually planned ahead. Not too say that the unexpected couldn't happen. Should they have not gone then?

Pineedles · 02-09-2009, 07:49 PM

I don't think Secondcurve meant any offense. He may have just been with you, in his mind, riding along at mile 916 and suddely the sled starts to die.

Cough, cough, cough, kaput, cough, cachoke, chugh, ca blehhhhhhhhhhh.

What do you do? Out in the middle of a 50 mile straightaway run, after going 80 mph?

You try to start the kaput sled. You can't start it, someone gets on the cell phone to get a GPS marker for your posiiton, and then you hop on someone elses ride, and git to the next station closest. Pickup the dead sled later.

BTW, has anyone checked out how Bear Islander is doing down in Antartica lately?

secondcurve · 02-09-2009, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hazelnut

What the heck?

What happens if your car breaks down in the middle of upstate Maine? What happens if your boat breaks down 45 miles off shore? What happens if your plane breaks down at 35,000 feet?

No offense Secondcurve but what were you looking for with that question? There is risk associated with every outdoor activity. I mean I'm half kidding with you here but what a doom and gloom mentality you have there.
I'm sure these folks have survival items with them, (Phones, Provisions, Mathces, etc.) I'm pretty sure we can give them the benefit of the doubt here that they actually planned ahead. Not too say that the unexpected couldn't happen. Should they have not gone then?

It was a serious question. If my car breaks down in the middle of Maine I call Triple A. If my boats breaks down 45 miles offshore I call Sea Tow. If my plane breaks down at 35,000 feet I hope I am flying with Sully the pilot who touched down in the Hudson. It isn't a gloom and doom question, but rather a practical question that anyone taking an 1800 mile trip must consider. Do you have anything of substance to add?

upthesaukee · 02-09-2009, 10:26 PM

Seriously...I had a friend who was part of a large group that did the Maine to Quebec superhighway snowmobile trip, and his sled broke a pulley or some kind of mechanical failure that you wouldn't carry spare parts for.

They towed the sled to a town, found someone who could fix it (gonna take a few days!), doubled up on a sled and picked up the sled on the way back.

And my friend said the guy was actually pretty reasonable, not cheap, but reasonable.

I guess you do what ya gotta do!

This'nThat · 02-10-2009, 06:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hazelnut

What the heck? No offense Secondcurve but what were you looking for with that question? I mean I'm half kidding with you here but what a doom and gloom mentality you have there.

Rather than assuming Secondcurve has a gloom and doom mentality, assume he wants information, and treat the question as a teaching opportunity. I think it's a legitimate question, and would prefer to see how experienced sledders deal with this possibility, instead.

BroadHopper · 02-10-2009, 10:12 AM

That has happen a couple of times. This is where 'yankee ingenuity' (MacGyver?) comes to play. We have always manage to get the sleds going. I wouldn't try this alone.

hazelnut · 02-10-2009, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by This'nThat

Rather than assuming Secondcurve has a gloom and doom mentality, assume he wants information, and treat the question as a teaching opportunity. I think it's a legitimate question, and would prefer to see how experienced sledders deal with this possibility, instead.

Well maybe I misread the tone of the question but the added "It certainly is a long way from home" comment leads one to believe he is asking it in a tsk tsk manner. My bad I guess.

Secondcurve if you actually read my post I added substance... I'll re-quote for you.

"I'm sure these folks have survival items with them, (Phones, Provisions, Mathces, etc.) I'm pretty sure we can give them the benefit of the doubt here that they actually planned ahead. Not too say that the unexpected couldn't happen."

To spell that out more plainly. If you take a trip like that you do need to plan ahead and pack some necessities. I was with a gentleman this weekend who told me an interesting story. He and his brother were up in the middle of nowhere snowmobiling. Essentially they got lost and both ran out of gas. It was late and it was "the middle of nowhere." So they lit a fire and stood outside in the cold until dawn. Somebody finally came along on a sled and rescued them.

Sorry I thought most of this might be common sense?

chipj29 · 02-10-2009, 12:23 PM

I doubt that the trip was actually 900 miles from home, then back. It was probably a bunch of loops, couple hundred miles here and there. You can be out in the middle of nowhere and still within a reasonable distance from a town or at least a residence. Not saying I would want to be in that scenario, but it can happen. As upthesaukee stated, breakdowns happen and you deal with them however you can. It usually involves getting towed into town. Hopefully everyone carries a tow strap. I do...now. I never did before, till my sled broke down last month and had to borrow a tow strap.

jeffk · 02-10-2009, 02:23 PM

To me, a lot of the draw of snowmobiling is getting away from it all, and accepting the risks that it entails.

You plan for common problems, ride with friends, and rely on the help of strangers for the rest. My experiences have always turned out well even though some of them have been quite bumpy. Just like the trails.

trfour · 02-10-2009, 08:45 PM

Even if you fly, hopefully your airline will do most of the footwork for you....

The corridor trails in Canada are very much like our Interstate Highways here in the states. Nice wide four and five lane limited access, meaning, one way traffic north, south, east and west. The signage on the trails let you know about Food, Lodging, Gas, hospital, parts and all of the major brand snowmobile dealerships, and much more.
On one of our trips to Gaspe on the ST. Lawrence Seaway, one of the sleds burned a piston. There was a dealership within 25 miles and we towed the sled in, it was under warranty and they not only did the repair work, but gave him a sled to use, we continued our trip and stopped on our way back through. His sled was ready, and we returned home safe and sound.

PS. Oh, and we had at least one good mechanic in our group.

Formula260SS · 02-11-2009, 06:06 AM

Miss those days, we used to run 1000 to 1500 miles in about a week in Northern Maine. Nothing like ripping down a trail on a Wednesday that is flat and fast with nobody around.

Nice ride Belmont !

ApS · 02-10-2009, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Belmont Resident

"...For you doubters it isn't hard to do those miles when you hit the trails by 7am and ride till 5 or 6 pm and many of the trails allow speeds to be held at 60-80 mph for long stretches..."

How was the scenery?

02-09-2009, 07:24 AM	#1
Belmont Resident Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Belmont NH but prefer Jackman Maine Posts: 1,857 Thanks: 491 Thanked 410 Times in 251 Posts	1800 GPS miles in 7.5 days My wife and I just got back from vacation at our place in northern Maine. Between riding in Maine and Canada we managed to log just over 1800 miles. Weather was great, trails were great but getting thinner and thinner as the week went by. Could use more snow instead of this warm up, I'm glad we went last week and not this one. Found our first Moose antler on a freshly groomed trail early one morning. He had just dropped it as indicated by the fresh blood in it. Saw other bulls still holding their racks. Best day was 330 miles with the lowest mile day being the day after with only 100 and change with many averaging 225 to 275 miles. For you doubters it isn't hard to do those miles when you hit the trails by 7am and ride till 5 or 6 pm and many of the trails allow speeds to be held at 60-80 mph for long stretches.

02-09-2009, 08:06 AM	#2
BroadHopper Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Laconia NH Posts: 5,570 Thanks: 3,205 Thanked 1,101 Times in 793 Posts	1800 miles I use to ride with a group of snowmobilers that leaves Laconia for Montreal and return. We will stop at Sherbrooke and Quebec City for the Winter Carnval. Once in Canada we will average about 70 mph. The trails are wide and straight. 1800 miles was a piece of cake! __________________ Someday may never be an actual day.

02-09-2009, 10:26 PM	#7
upthesaukee Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Alton Bay Posts: 5,596 Blog Entries: 2 Thanks: 2,453 Thanked 1,979 Times in 1,080 Posts	tow it Seriously...I had a friend who was part of a large group that did the Maine to Quebec superhighway snowmobile trip, and his sled broke a pulley or some kind of mechanical failure that you wouldn't carry spare parts for. They towed the sled to a town, found someone who could fix it (gonna take a few days!), doubled up on a sled and picked up the sled on the way back. And my friend said the guy was actually pretty reasonable, not cheap, but reasonable. I guess you do what ya gotta do! __________________ I Live Here... I am always UPTHESAUKEE !!!!

02-10-2009, 10:12 AM	#9
BroadHopper Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Laconia NH Posts: 5,570 Thanks: 3,205 Thanked 1,101 Times in 793 Posts	break down That has happen a couple of times. This is where 'yankee ingenuity' (MacGyver?) comes to play. We have always manage to get the sleds going. I wouldn't try this alone. __________________ Someday may never be an actual day.

02-10-2009, 12:23 PM	#11
chipj29 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Bow Posts: 1,874 Thanks: 521 Thanked 308 Times in 162 Posts	I doubt that the trip was actually 900 miles from home, then back. It was probably a bunch of loops, couple hundred miles here and there. You can be out in the middle of nowhere and still within a reasonable distance from a town or at least a residence. Not saying I would want to be in that scenario, but it can happen. As upthesaukee stated, breakdowns happen and you deal with them however you can. It usually involves getting towed into town. Hopefully everyone carries a tow strap. I do...now. I never did before, till my sled broke down last month and had to borrow a tow strap. __________________ Getting ready for winter!

The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Belmont Resident For This Useful Post:
hazelnut (02-09-2009), trfour (02-10-2009)

02-09-2009, 06:00 PM	#3
secondcurve Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 2,117 Thanks: 1,325 Thanked 559 Times in 288 Posts	What happens if someone's sled dies? It certainly is a long way from home.

02-09-2009, 07:49 PM	#5
Pineedles Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Moultonborough & CT Posts: 2,542 Thanks: 1,071 Thanked 667 Times in 366 Posts	I don't think Secondcurve meant any offense. He may have just been with you, in his mind, riding along at mile 916 and suddely the sled starts to die. Cough, cough, cough, kaput, cough, cachoke, chugh, ca blehhhhhhhhhhh. What do you do? Out in the middle of a 50 mile straightaway run, after going 80 mph? You try to start the kaput sled. You can't start it, someone gets on the cell phone to get a GPS marker for your posiiton, and then you hop on someone elses ride, and git to the next station closest. Pickup the dead sled later. BTW, has anyone checked out how Bear Islander is doing down in Antartica lately?

The Following User Says Thank You to upthesaukee For This Useful Post:
secondcurve (02-10-2009)

The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to This'nThat For This Useful Post:
Gatto Nero (02-10-2009), secondcurve (02-10-2009)

02-10-2009, 02:23 PM	#12
jeffk Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Center Harbor Posts: 1,165 Thanks: 205 Thanked 432 Times in 249 Posts	To me, a lot of the draw of snowmobiling is getting away from it all, and accepting the risks that it entails. You plan for common problems, ride with friends, and rely on the help of strangers for the rest. My experiences have always turned out well even though some of them have been quite bumpy. Just like the trails.

02-10-2009, 08:45 PM	#13
trfour Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: The Lakes, Central NH. and Dallas/Fort Worth TX. Posts: 3,694 Blog Entries: 3 Thanks: 3,069 Thanked 472 Times in 236 Posts	Any 1800 Mile Trip Takes Planning.... Even if you fly, hopefully your airline will do most of the footwork for you.... The corridor trails in Canada are very much like our Interstate Highways here in the states. Nice wide four and five lane limited access, meaning, one way traffic north, south, east and west. The signage on the trails let you know about Food, Lodging, Gas, hospital, parts and all of the major brand snowmobile dealerships, and much more. On one of our trips to Gaspe on the ST. Lawrence Seaway, one of the sleds burned a piston. There was a dealership within 25 miles and we towed the sled in, it was under warranty and they not only did the repair work, but gave him a sled to use, we continued our trip and stopped on our way back through. His sled was ready, and we returned home safe and sound. PS. Oh, and we had at least one good mechanic in our group. __________________ *trfour* Always Remember, The Best Safety Device In The Boat, or on a PWC Snowmobile etc., Is YOU! Safe sledding tips and much more; http://www.snowmobile.org/snowmobiling-safety.html

02-11-2009, 06:06 AM	#14
Formula260SS Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: NH Posts: 384 Thanks: 11 Thanked 76 Times in 51 Posts	Miss those days, we used to run 1000 to 1500 miles in about a week in Northern Maine. Nothing like ripping down a trail on a Wednesday that is flat and fast with nobody around. Nice ride Belmont !